Summary

Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen seized a key island on Friday after having captured a Red Sea port, moves that threatened to further disrupt international shipping in the region. Iran called on Saudi Arabia to end its blockade of Yemen and immediately resume talks. Separately, the AI company Anthropic said it identified and blocked users in northern Yemen attempting to develop advanced missiles. Here’s a look at the latest news in the Middle East. Houthi rebels capture strategic island as Saudi Arabia targets airport Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels captured the island of Mayun at the entrance of the Red Sea, a key alternative for shipping Saudi oil and other exports since Iran has been targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The island’s seizure was confirmed by a senior military official with Yemen’s internationally recognized government and a Houthi official. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to journalists. Saudi Arabia responded with airstrikes against the airport in Yemen’s port city of Mokha, which the Houthis captured Thursday, a Houthi broadcaster said. There was no immediate report of damage or deaths. About 12% of the world’s goods are typically shipped through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea. It’s especially important to Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally. For years, Saudi Arabia has imposed a blockade on Houthi-held parts of Yemen, prompting the rebels to escalate attacks on Saudi shipping. Iran presses for end to Saudi blockade of Yemen Iran’s Foreign Ministry called for an end to Saudi Arabia’s blockade of Yemen and an immediate return to negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, throwing its support behind its ally. The statement carried by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency marked Tehran’s first public comment since the Houthis entered into the Red Sea port of Mokha on Thursday. Meanwhile, Yemen’s National Defense Council strongly condemned the Houthis’ renewed attacks on Saudi Arabia, saying it would respond to threats across the country. Anthropic blocks users in Houthi-held Yemen over weapons development The AI company Anthropic said it blocked users in northern Yemen who were using its AI models to run weapons development programs, some using commercially available smartphones. Anthropic said its models were being used to pursue sophisticated precision, long-range ballistic and hypersonic missiles. The company said it identified the users during an internal investigation and banned their accounts. Iran-backed Houthi rebels who control northern Yemen have been smuggling advanced weapons for years despite a blockade and U.N. arms embargo. Iran denies arming the rebels. Anthropic said the accounts used Claude Code to develop software that “steers and stabilizes a flying vehicle” and were working to develop weapons including a guided rocket that allows mobile phone users to autonomously track targets. There is no evidence the users in Yemen succeeded in fielding a weapon, the company said. Man walking in street killed by Israeli strike in Gaza An Israeli strike on Friday killed a man walking in a street in southern Gaza and wounded several others, including children, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the body and the wounded. The Israeli military said the strike in Khan Younis had targeted a Hamas member. Meanwhile, mourners held funeral prayers for two of three men who were killed Thursday in Khan Younis. The Israeli military said one of the men, Mohammad Yazouri, was a Hamas commander.